Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation (CCPR) invites the community to be part of a virtual volunteer event throughout the month of May. To participate in the Virtual Weed Wrangle, remove invasive species from your own property. Participating volunteers will receive a free tree sapling from CCPR.
When you are finished removing invasive species from your property, email a photo to volunteer@carmelclayparks.com. Once the photo is received the CCPR volunteer coordinator will email directions for contactless tree pick up and instructions for planting. Volunteers are also encouraged to share photos on social media using the hashtags #WeedWrangleIndiana and #HCinvasives.
“While we are heartbroken we won’t be volunteering together for the Weed Wrangle, we are thrilled to continue educating our community about the importance of eradicating invasive species from our parks and our backyards,” said Joanna Woodruff, CCPR Volunteer Coordinator. “It is our hope that our volunteers enjoy supporting our native habitats through this virtual experience!”
When participating, please remember the following: Follow CDC guidelines for COVID-19 safety, use your own tools as they were intended for your safety and those around you, and properly dispose of plant material.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, an invasive species is any type of organism that isn’t native to a certain area. Invasive species are prevalent in parks, neighborhoods and back yards and are more hurtful than helpful to the environment around them. To learn more about how to properly remove common invasive species like Garlic Mustard and Bush Honeysuckle, visit carmelclayparks.com/park-stewardship.